By Christian CarylChristian Caryl is the author of Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century. A former reporter at Newsweek, he is a senior fellow at the Legatum Institute (which co-publishes Democracy Lab with Foreign Policy) and a contributing editor at the National Interest. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books., Neha PaliwalNeha Paliwal is the Editorial Assistant for Democracy Lab.

As Democracy Lab celebrates its first anniversary, editor Christian Caryl shares some of the channel’s highlights from the past year.

Morten Jerven weighs in on our debate about African economics by taking a closer look at the numbers.

Egyptian activist Maikel Nabil Sanad blasts Germany for welcoming President Morsy on a state visit.

Alexander Cooley explains how Russia, China, and their regional allies have been building a common front against democratic norms.

In the latest of our continuing series of collaborations with Princeton’s Innovations for Successful Societies, Amy Mawson tells the story of how South Africa overcame the challenge of its first post-apartheid election.

Cambodia bid farewell to their controversial former monarch, King Norodom Sihanouk, as he was finally cremated this weekend after passing away in October 2012. Pictured above are members of the funeral procession, resting by the Mekong River.

The International Crisis Group warns of the likelihood of intensifying political conflict in Egypt. ICG authors also report on the organization’s planned exit from Haiti.

The Economist provides a much-needed overview of the past two years of revolution in Egypt.

Sheri Berman, writing in Foreign Affairs, explains why it’s too early to be pessimistic about the Arab Spring.

Human Rights Watch gives the Burmese government a poor grade on reform efforts. The Wall Street Journal reports on the issuing of the first credit cards in Burma.

In an op-ed for The New York Times, Sam Loewenberg explains why social scientists should publicize their failures as well as their successes.

Reutersreports on the trial of a Bahraini princess for torturing detainees in prison.

World Politics Reviewoffers an in-depth look at the hawala money-lending system that is helping Iran evade sanctions (paywall).

Democracy Digestexplains the controversy surrounding the case of a former Ukrainian police chief accused of murdering journalist Georgy Gongadze. The Ukrainian civic organization "People First" releases the results of a survey on the priorities and problems of Ukrainians.

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Christian CarylChristian Caryl is the author of Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century. A former reporter at Newsweek, he is a senior fellow at the Legatum Institute (which co-publishes Democracy Lab with Foreign Policy) and a contributing editor at the National Interest. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books. | Transitions |

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Christian CarylChristian Caryl is the author of Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century. A former reporter at Newsweek, he is a senior fellow at the Legatum Institute (which co-publishes Democracy Lab with Foreign Policy) and a contributing editor at the National Interest. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books. | Transitions |

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Christian CarylChristian Caryl is the author of Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century. A former reporter at Newsweek, he is a senior fellow at the Legatum Institute (which co-publishes Democracy Lab with Foreign Policy) and a contributing editor at the National Interest. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books. | Transitions |